The Department of Labor and Employment – National Capital Region joins the launching of the Break the Silence National Network in line with the observance of the National Awareness Week for the Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation. The activity was spearheaded by the Council for the Welfare of Children and the Stairway Foundation, Inc., held at the Philippine Christian University Auditorium on 6 February 2017.

The activity was well attended by stakeholders who cater to the concerns of children such as the DSWD, PNP, CHR, DepEd, and MMDA for the government sector. The NGOs present during the activity were the ERDA Foundation, Support and Empower Abused Deaf Children, Inc., Hope for the Children Foundation, and Consuelo Foundation; among others. International participants also attended the activity to extend their support: H.E. Jan Top Christensen, Danish Ambassador to the Philippines and Ms. Lotta Sylwander, Country Representative of UNICEF.

The messages delivered by the partners focused on the need to address the concerns of children as two in every ten children experienced sexual violence while growing up. Further, 2.5% of the children encountered online sexual violence as their nude photographs or sexual activities are featured in the internet.

On the side, the DOLE-NCR representative Mr. Ryan Roberto E. Delos Reyes, Sr. LEO of EPWW, mentioned last year’s series of capacity building for the Career Advocates Life Coaches and Mentors (CALM), the career coaches’ network of DOLE-NCR. He said that the commitment came after the DepEd Consultation on Child Protection Policy for schools, of which the Guidance Counselors are Vice Chair of the committee. Two capacity building activities were conducted on the basic information on Child Labor and Child Pornography as one of the worst forms of Child Labor. Ms. Patricia Luna, Executive Director of the Council for the Welfare of Children lauded the initiative of DOLE-NCR with encouragement to be more participative and active in cascading information on child abuse and its relative concerns.

The activity is part of the annual conduct on advocacy against Child Sexual Abuse and Exploitation.